MASON TO ANIMATION

Hi everybody and welcome to Courtney Mason Illustration!

Illustration

My goal is to translate written and verbal ideas into visual imagery that is colorful, compelling, and clearly communicate the objectives of the client. I pride myself on my versatility and am confident in my abilities to tackle any challenge both effectively and efficiently. I am open to creative opportunities in a variety of markets such as but not limited to Graphic Design, Advertising, Editorial, Book Publishing, and especially Post Production for Entertainment.

Animation

My "dream job" is to someday have a career within the animation industry. The holy trio or trifecta of skills will be in character design, storyboarding, and character animation. I have experience in experimental animation, stop motion, claymation, 2D and 3D animation using Autodesk Maya, Photoshop, and Final Cut Pro. In 2011, I received a grant from the Women's Education and Leadership Fund to conduct a study of animation through research and practical application. I learned the fundamentals and foundations of 3D animation through the Ianimate Advanced Character Animation Program and I am continuing my education through Animation Mentor School for Character Animation online starting this upcoming fall 2012.

Innovation

I am very much a team player, but also a self starter and driven towards success. Since I was a child, I was an entrepreneur, a quality I believe I enherited from my father. This sense of leadership and drive has always helped me optimize every opportunity and has given me confidence in the value of my ideas. While I am very dedicated to clients needs before my own needs, I always feel like I have something to learn and something to give.



Monday, October 22, 2012

Oh, the places you'll go

Maybe I am being naive, but I do believe that at this tender age of 23 I should keep dream chasing. But the work I was doing combined with school, combined with trying to create new art, was slowing me up in all aspects of my life.

While I really enjoyed the opportunity to be the head of the art department and have truly grown from the experience, it was becoming too stressful and I was sacrificing my creativity far too much for my liking.  My school work has been barely getting done, and I have not painted since last april...

So after much thought,  I gave my two weeks notice and graciously resigned.  I realize some might criticize me for this saying I should be grateful as an artist to have found any employment at all or that I at least should have found a better job first before leaving.  However, I value my creativity a little more than some people do...and I am willing to put in the time and live a frugal lifestyle until someone truly recognizes it and appreciates it.

And that may happen sooner than I think.  I am not sure.  I had two interviews since I departed on Friday.  While of course I hope they work out, I wouldn't mind doing freelance and really boosting my portfolio for specific markets.  I feel like while my college education offered me versatility, but it didn't offer me much time to hone in on a specific market.  So, I am going to have to do this myself.

I hate that society is quick to judge your career path, but we are all so different. Some live to work, others work to live.  Some will stay at a company for 30 years, some will jump from place to place. I am learning there is no right or wrong answer.  All and all, we have the rest of our lives to find the job we love and excel in. And maybe you won't.  Maybe you'll find something that gets you from A to B.  But either way, you can turn that crap job's money into something you really love to do after work...or whatever you want.  At the end of the day, we all just strive to live well and prosper (yeaaaaaah star trek reference!)

And the best booster of confidence and evidence of this in the day to day,  is the book from doctor seuss, "Oh, the places you go!"  If you want to go read it right now, it will seriously improve your mood.  I recommend reading it with a glass of wine. Just for fun.  If you are of age of course :)


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